Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified and teach in Duanbolan Zhen? Are you interested in teaching English in Qingdao Shi? Check out ITTT’s online and in-class courses, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English ONLINE or abroad! ITTT offers a wide variety of Online TEFL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language.
In the past couple of years or so, one musical artist has managed to win not only the hearts of audiences around the world but also the respect and friendship of fellow colleagues in the recording and entertainment industry. Their fans chant each member’s name in consecutive order during performances and meet and greets, holding an assortment of custom designed light sticks, banners, and digitized name signs on smartphones. Proud to call themselves ARMY, fans flock to stadiums, award shows, and even airports just to catch a glimpse of BTS. This popular Korean boyband has been trending at the top of both South Korean and Western music charts with songs that wax poetic about self-love and confidence as well as lyrics that intertwine the English and Korean languages. Regardless of geographic location, nationality, or native language, BTS has kicked open the door and begun building the bridge that connects Korean popular music to the Western music mainstream. Most importantly, BTS has ignited a cultural exchange between two hemispheres that rarely meet at the epicenter of the entertainment industry. Historically, Korean popular music (K-Pop) has had very little mainstream exposure in the Western hemisphere, with one hit wonders such as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and failed attempts by Baby VOX in 2004 with a controversial J.Lo remix or the godfather of modern K-Pop, Seo Taiji’s 1992 rerecorded debut album in English (Dorof). Whether these small bursts of contemporary Korean music succeeded or flopped, they did mark the beginnings for wider international recognition. As Korean music powerhouses modified their K-Pop formula to attract Western audiences, the one thing that has remained throughout is the incorporation of English. Many K-Pop artists title their albums or songs in English, dropping key words in the chorus for flare, but BTS includes English to communicate with their international listeners on a deeper level. They want their fans to understand the overall message of their songs without having to be fluent in Korean. For BTS, this use of English works heavily in their favor. Interspersing English words between verses and choruses, BTS highlights important social issues, such as mental health and excessive materialism (Kelley). While most K-Pop artists eschew these topics, BTS’ willingness to discuss social taboos aligns them to the more progressive thinking of Western listeners. From their past number one albums, such as “Wings,” “You Never Walk Alone,” and the series of “Love Yourself: Her,” “Love Yourself: Tear,” and “Love Yourself: Answer,” BTS tackles concepts of bullying, loneliness, and self-love—themes that transcend time and language. For example, their song, “Reflection,” begins with English lyrics: “I know/ Every life’s a movie/ We got different stars and stories/ We got different nights and mornings/ Our scenarios ain’t just boring” (“Reflection”), an acknowledgment of individuals’ differences and experiences. Further into the song, Korean lyrics reference suicide with mentions of the Han River, a popular place for those who intend to take their own lives, and how that specific area connects strangers who may feel similarly. The song ends with English repetitions of “I wish I could love myself” (“Reflection”), another sentiment that many listeners can relate to. BTS’ socially conscious songs appeal to fans, particularly the younger generations, because of the rising awareness in mental health. BTS offers a supportive channel for audiences to express their feelings and struggles. Besides using English as a platform to offer social criticism through music, BTS embraces the opportunity for their songs to inspire charitable programs and initiate cultural exchange on social media. Philanthropically speaking, the group collaborated with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for an anti-violence campaign called Love Myself. The campaign focused on “making the world a safer place so that […] children and teenagers will be able to live happy and healthy lives, without living in the fear of violence” (Herman), using the hashtag #ENDViolence on social media to spread awareness. Through their social media presence and overall interaction with fans, BTS has unintentionally sparked interests in South Korean history, language, and sociocultural norms, such as beauty standards for women and men, as well as the uptrend in the metrosexual style, an androgynous aesthetic that leans more on the feminine than the masculine. The cultural exchange in this aspect has influenced many male celebrities to take fashion risks at red carpeted events, blurring the line between what is and what is not socially acceptable. Although BTS’ global popularity has made them an instant sensation in both the Western and Eastern hemispheres, they are not the only phenomenon to benefit from the English language. Other K-Pop groups and individuals have branched out on their own world tours, written and sung songs in English, and even signed contracts with American record companies. Most recently, Blackpink became the first K-pop group to perform at Coachella, an American music festival known for its once-in-a-lifetime concerts (Gallucci). In return, Korean musical artists share their native culture everywhere they go—whether through social media posts written in both English or Korean or performances at organized conventions, like K-Con, that showcase Korean culture and music at its best. Avid fans and first-time concert goers are more than likely to become fascinated with this East Asian country and its society. Works Cited Dorof, J. (2018, June 12). A Deeper Look at Why BTS Has Thrived in America. Retrieved from Vulture website: https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/a-deeper-look-at-why-bts-has- thrived-in-america.html Gallucci, N. (2019, April 13). Blackpink Made K-pop History Performing at Coachella. Retrieved from Mashable website: https://mashable.com/article/blackpink-kpop-makes- coachella-history/ Herman, T. (2017, October 31). BTS Collaborates with UNICEF on 'Love Myself' Anti-Violence Campaign. Retrieved from Billboard website: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8022101/bts-collaborates-unicef- love-myself-anti-violence-campaign Kelley, C. (2017, September 18). BTS' 11 Most Socially Conscious Songs Before 'Go Go'. Retrieved from Billboard website: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k- town/7966116/bts-socially-conscious-woke-songs-go-go-list Reflection. (n.d.). Retrieved from Genius website: https://genius.com/Rm-reflection-lyrics
